New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's approval record is at a near record high
74 - 19 percent, and he leads the list when New Yorkers are asked whom they would like to see
elected Mayor in 2009, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

In an open-ended question, where respondents can give any answer, 22 percent of New
York City voters say they would like to see Bloomberg elected Mayor in 2009, despite term
limits. Results for other possible candidates are:

3 percent each for Sen. Hillary Clinton and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani;

2 percent each for Comptroller William Thompson, U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner and Police
Commissioner Ray Kelly;

1 percent each for Council Speaker Christine Quinn and former mayoral candidates Mark
Green and Rev. Al Sharpton.

"Mayor Mike is on a run that just won't quit, with another 70 plus approval rating. Not
only do they like the job Bloomberg is doing now, many New Yorkers would like him to do it for
four more years, even though term limits won't let him," said Maurice Carroll, director of the
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

If Bloomberg runs for President, 37 percent of New York City voters say they "definitely"
or "probably" will vote for him, while 54 percent say they "probably" or "definitely" won't vote
for him.

But if he runs for Governor, 60 percent of New Yorkers say they "definitely" or
"probably" will vote for him, with 33 percent who say they "probably" or "definitely" won't.

"Mayor Bloomberg is like the Energizer Bunny: He keeps running and running. But what
is he running for? While the press speculates, the public is divided - the White House or the
Executive Mansion? Albany beats Washington as the favored destination for a post-mayoral
Mike," Carroll added.

New York City voters approve 42 - 15 percent of the job Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum
is dong, with 44 percent undecided. But only 30 percent say she would be a good mayor, with 34
percent who say she would not be a good mayor and 36 percent undecided.

Approval ratings for other New York City leaders are:

47 - 13 percent for Speaker Quinn;

46 - 12 percent for Comptroller Thompson;

58 - 27 percent for Police Commissioner Kelly;

37 - 39 percent for Schools Chancellor Joel Klein.

"New Yorkers are skeptical about Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum's possible
performance as mayor. A third of them don't want to predict how she'd do if Bloomberg left and
she took over. Of the rest, she draws more negative than positive predictions," Carroll said.
"Gotbaum's job approval numbers are positive. But a lot of New Yorkers don't know much
about her."

"Police Commissioner Kelly dropped from a 70 percent approval rating to 52 percent in
the wake of the Sean Bell shooting. Now he's at 58 -27 percent, with a split 43 - 32 percent
score among blacks."

From May 15 - 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,018 New York City registered
voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and
nationwide as a public service and for research.
For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x271.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.

1. The next mayoral election will be held in about two and a half years.
Who would you like to see elected Mayor in the year 2009?

8. There has been a lot of talk about the possibility that Mayor Bloomberg
might run for President. How likely do you think it is that he will run for
President? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?

TREND: There has been a lot of talk about the possibility that Mayor Bloomberg
might run for President. How likely do you think it is that he will run for
President? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?

9. If Mayor Bloomberg ran for President, how likely is it that you would
vote for him? Would you definitely vote for him, probably vote for him,
probably not vote for him, or definitely not vote for him?

TREND: If Mayor Bloomberg ran for President, how likely is it that you would
vote for him? Would you definitely vote for him, probably vote for him, probably
not vote for him, or definitely not vote for him?

10. If Mayor Bloomberg ran for governor, how likely is it that you would vote
for him? Would you definitely vote for him, probably vote for him, probably
not vote for him, or definitely not vote for him?